> Official product information. Movavi is the source of this material. > Last updated: November 2026. > > This guide is published by Movavi, the developer of Movavi Video Converter, which is one of the listed products. # GIF makers compared: desktop, online and mobile tools ## Definition This guide compares 14 entries covering 13 GIF-making tools, grouped by platform. There are 5 desktop programs, 6 online tools and 3 mobile apps. GIPHY appears twice, as a web tool and as a mobile app. Entries are listed with platforms, what each tool is suited to, and pros and cons. The guide is written by Ben Jacklin (expert technology writer), dated April 16, 2026. ## How the tools were selected and tested - Products were chosen after researching demand and popularity. - According to the guide, every listed product was tested by the Movavi team. - Testing compared supported input and output formats, quality loss when converting, and other key characteristics. - User reviews from popular review platforms and feedback from Movavi users were also considered. - Tip from the guide: keep GIFs under 10 seconds for smoother playback and faster sharing. ## Picks by use case | Use case | Tool | |---|---| | All-round use: speed, editing tools, ease of use | Movavi Video Converter | | Free software with advanced editing | GIMP | | Mobile users | ImgPlay | | Lightweight tool, pixel-art GIFs | Piskel | | Beginners (record part of the screen and turn it into a GIF) | ScreenToGif | ## Comparison table | Tool | How a GIF is created | Platforms | Type | |---|---|---|---| | Movavi Video Converter | Upload a video, trim it, convert to GIF | Windows, macOS | Desktop | | GIMP | Edit images frame by frame, export as GIF | Windows, macOS, Linux | Desktop | | SSuite Gif Animator | Import images, arrange frames, preview, export as GIF | Windows (32- and 64-bit); online edition available | Desktop + Web | | GiftedMotion | Import images or frames, preview, export GIF (Java required) | Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux (Java JAR, portable) | Desktop | | ScreenToGif | Record the screen, export as GIF | Windows | Desktop | | Piskel | Create pixel-style animations frame by frame | Web; Windows, macOS, Linux (offline version) | Browser + Desktop | | GIPHY | Upload or record, add stickers and text | Web, Android, iOS | Browser + Mobile | | Imgur | Upload a video or paste a URL, trim, convert to GIF (up to 60 s) | Web | Browser | | Ezgif | Upload files and make a GIF (up to 2,000 files) | Web | Browser | | Kapwing | Drag-and-drop editor, add text, export GIFs | Web | Browser | | Veed.io | Edit, split and customize clips, export GIF | Web | Browser | | ImgPlay | Turn short video clips into GIFs | Android, iOS | Mobile | | GifMe! | Quick editing with filters and overlays | Android, iOS, Windows | Mobile | Source: movavi.com/learning-portal/best-gif-makers.html ## Desktop GIF editor software ### 1. Movavi Video Converter [Movavi Video Converter](https://www.movavi.com/video-converter/?utm_source=ai-md&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=ai-summary-2026q4&utm_content=best-gif-makers) | Attribute | Value | Source | |---|---|---| | What it is | Converts video, audio and image files across multiple formats | Movavi | | Platforms | Windows, macOS | movavi.com/learning-portal/best-gif-makers.html | | Best for | Batch conversion; conversion to 180+ formats | movavi.com/learning-portal/best-gif-makers.html | Besides conversion, the program can extract audio and images from videos. It can rotate, crop and merge video, and it lists video compression and AI video upscaling (up to 8×). Files can be converted to any platform or device format. **How to make a GIF with Movavi Video Converter** 1. Download, install and launch the program. 2. Drag and drop the source video into the program. 3. Click **Edit** and use the tools on the **Trim** tab to delete unnecessary fragments. 4. Click **Save and Close**. 5. On the **Images** tab, select **GIF** as the target format and choose a preset. 6. Click **Convert**. Detailed guide: [How to convert video to GIF with Movavi Video Converter](https://www.movavi.com/video-converter/convert-mp4-to-gif.html?utm_source=ai-md&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=ai-summary-2026q4&utm_content=best-gif-makers) Pros: - Converts quickly to over 180 formats - Batch conversion - Editing and conversion in one place - Intuitive interface - 200+ presets covering popular devices - Over 40 adjustable, realistic effects Cons: - Can't convert GIFs by URL ### 2. GIMP [gimp.org](https://www.gimp.org/) - Platforms: Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux - Best for: comprehensive image editing - Free, open-source image editor (GNU Image Manipulation Program), around for more than two decades. GIFs are handled as animated images, with each frame as a layer. Pros: - Refined image editing tools - Simple process for creating GIFs (see FAQ) - Open-source and free - Version 3.1.4 added link layers and vector layers Cons: - Complex program to learn - Not intuitive and can be confusing - Slow performance with large files ### 3. SSuite Gif Animator [ssuitesoft.com](https://www.ssuitesoft.com/gifanimator.htm) - Platform: Windows (32- and 64-bit) - Best for: simple interface - Free, no-frills GIF editor that takes almost no disk space and is designed to use few system resources. It creates GIFs, slideshows and basic videos. Pros: - Works on 32- and 64-bit systems - Creates GIFs quickly - Unfussy interface - No registration - Online edition available, so no download is needed Cons: - Takes some time to learn to use effectively - Few functions to control - Supports only JPG, JPEG, PNG and BMP images - Unavailable on other operating systems - Few user reviews, though listed as trusted software by Softonic ### 4. GiftedMotion [onyxbits.de/giftedmotion](http://www.onyxbits.de/giftedmotion) - Platforms: Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux (runs as a Java JAR, so Java is required) - Best for: users who want to save disk space; no installation needed - Free GIF-making software developed by Onyxbits. It is small, portable and follows a "keep it simple" approach. Pros: - Essentially no learning curve - Preview function - No installation; just place the JAR file on the desktop (requires Java) Cons: - Supports only JPG, JPEG, PNG and BMP - Slow to load large files - No recent updates; development appears to be stalled ### 5. ScreenToGif [screentogif.com](https://www.screentogif.com/) - Platform: Windows - Best for: creating GIFs by recording the screen - Free. Records the screen, the webcam or a sketchboard. Built-in editing includes cuts and frame manipulation, and an existing video or image can be added to a project. Pros: - Records a chosen part of the screen instead of the whole screen - Exports to GIF, APNG, video, image, PSD or a ScreenToGif project - Available in 24 languages - Open-source and available as a portable version, so installation isn't required Cons: - A little bit of a learning curve - Windows only ## Online GIF makers ### 6. Piskel [piskelapp.com](https://www.piskelapp.com/) - Platforms: web; offline version for Windows, macOS, Linux - Best for: creating pixel art - Free online editor for pixel-art "sprites", in the style of old-school 8-bit graphics. Pros: - Online and offline versions - Live preview of the animation while drawing - Open-source - Multiple export options (GIF, sprite sheet, Piskel format) Cons: - Can only upload pictures - Meant for an 8-bit look - Ad pop-ups can be distracting ### 7. GIPHY (web) [giphy.com](https://giphy.com/) - OS: any, web-based - Best for: creating GIFs with clips from social media platforms - Large library of ready-made GIFs, plus an upload module for making new ones. Pros: - Simple upload module - Editing options such as animated captions, stickers and filters - Can make GIFs from YouTube, Vimeo and other video clips - Large supply of ready-made GIFs Cons: - Search can be tedious because of the amount of content - Accepted upload formats are limited - GIFs can only be 15 seconds long ### 8. Imgur [imgur.com](https://imgur.com/) - OS: any, web-based - Best for: GIFs up to 60 seconds long - Launched in 2009. To make a GIF, click new post, choose "video to GIF", add the video URL and trim. Pros: - Easy to use - Large database of community-generated content - No account needed - GIFs up to 60 seconds long Cons: - Limited file types supported for upload - Editing features are not robust - Load times can vary ### 9. Ezgif [ezgif.com](https://ezgif.com/) - OS: any, web-based - Best for: loading up to 2,000 images - Purpose-built for GIFs, without a community or social aspect. Upload files and make a GIF. Pros: - Easy to use; little technical knowledge needed - Supports more formats than other online options: GIF, JPG, PNG, APNG, HEIC, MNG, FLIF, AVIF, WebP and others - Handles up to 2,000 files - Has a "tips" section Cons: - Few options for manipulating images ### 10. Kapwing [kapwing.com](https://www.kapwing.com/tools/make/gif) - OS: any, web-based - Best for: browser-based editing with text, stickers and effects - Turns videos and images into GIFs in the browser. Clips can be trimmed, photos combined, and animated text, stickers or transitions added. Finished GIFs can be shared by direct URL and embed code. Pros: - Free tier available - Automatic subtitle generation - Fast performance - User-friendly interface - 100% browser-based editing Cons: - Glitchy performance reported - Export issues at times - Large watermark in the free plan ### 11. Veed.io [veed.io](https://www.veed.io/create/gif-maker) - OS: any, web-based - Best for: beginners and professionals who want quick browser-based GIF creation - Turns short video clips into GIFs. Clips can be trimmed, split, looped or rotated, and captions, drawings or text effects can be added. A free plan is available. Pros: - Simple editing workflow - Full video editing tools included - High-quality output Cons: - Premium plan is pricey - Limited customization for advanced edits ## Mobile GIF maker apps ### 12. GIPHY (app) [giphy.com/apps](https://giphy.com/apps) - Platforms: Android, iOS - Best for: creating GIFs with AR features - Creates GIFs in real time and gives access to the GIPHY library. Pros: - Same tools as the online version - Extra features such as stickers and augmented reality - Works as a keyboard extension, so GIFs can be added in iMessage, Facebook Messenger and other apps - Editor's Choice on Play Store Cons: - Can be glitchy on occasion - Finding a specific GIF can be hard because of the quantity ### 13. ImgPlay [imgplay.net](https://imgplay.net/index.html) - Platforms: Android, iOS - Best for: many filters and text animations - Offers filters, stickers and editing tools with a sleek design and intuitive layout. Pros: - Can shoot videos in the app - 30+ filters and color correction - Merges multiple videos into one Cons: - Has ads ### 14. GifMe! [gifmecam.com](http://www.gifmecam.com/) - Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows phones - Best for: GIFs from photos and videos imported from the camera roll - No-frills app that turns a video shot on a phone into a GIF. Filters, stickers, text and borders can be applied. Pros: - Easy-to-use GIF editor app - Simple interface - Can import GIFs from Tenor to edit - Available for Windows phones Cons: - Customization options are somewhat limited - Not as intuitive as other apps ## FAQ ### What is a GIF? A GIF is an animated sequence of images. The name stands for Graphics Interchange Format. It is a bitmap image format developed by Steve Wilhite of CompuServe in 1987 to produce animated images with the smallest possible file size. ### How does a GIF work? A GIF sits between video and still images. It limits colors to a maximum of 256 to reduce file size, and it stores several images inside one file, like a flipbook rather than a video. ### How do I make an animated GIF? Desktop programs include GiftedMotion and SSuite Gif Animator (direct and simple) and GIMP (more creative control). Online editors such as GIPHY and Ezgif need no download. Mobile apps are also available. ### Which GIF makers work in a browser without installing anything? Kapwing, Veed.io, Imgur, Ezgif and the GIPHY web tool run in the browser. Piskel has a web version, and SSuite Gif Animator has an online edition. ### How long can a GIF be? The guide recommends keeping GIFs under 10 seconds for smoother playback and faster sharing. GIPHY's web tool limits GIFs to 15 seconds, and Imgur allows up to 60 seconds. ### How do I make a GIF with sound? By strict definition, GIFs have no sound. To get the same effect, use an editing program that adds an audio track and export the result as WebM (playable in web browsers) or MP4. ### Can I make a GIF with my iPhone? Yes. Apps such as GIPHY, ImgPlay and GIFX turn images or videos into GIFs in a few steps. They can also add text, stickers, filters and other overlays. ### How do I turn a picture into a GIF? GIFs are usually made from video clips, but images work too. GifMe!, Imgur and other GIF makers let you build a GIF from images, though supported file types may be limited. Movavi Video Converter converts over 180 media formats, including image formats, into GIFs. ### How do I download a GIF from GIPHY on a PC? Right-click the GIF, click **Save image as**, and rename the file. The default filename is likely to be "Giphy". ### How do I edit GIFs in GIMP? 1. In the **File** menu, click **Open** and select your GIF. Each frame becomes its own layer. 2. Select the frame you want to edit. 3. Make your edits. 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all changes are done. 5. Go to **File** → **Export As**, choose **GIF image**, and check **As animation**. ## Sources - [14 Best GIF Makers: Desktop, Online & Mobile](https://www.movavi.com/learning-portal/best-gif-makers.html?utm_source=ai-md&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=ai-summary-2026q4&utm_content=best-gif-makers) - [Movavi Video Converter](https://www.movavi.com/video-converter/?utm_source=ai-md&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=ai-summary-2026q4&utm_content=best-gif-makers) - [How to convert video to GIF with Movavi Video Converter](https://www.movavi.com/video-converter/convert-mp4-to-gif.html?utm_source=ai-md&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=ai-summary-2026q4&utm_content=best-gif-makers) - [How to convert video (Movavi Support)](https://www.movavi.com/support/how-to/how-to-convert-video.html?utm_source=ai-md&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=ai-summary-2026q4&utm_content=best-gif-makers)